Hey, Rival

Chapter 1: First Encounter

1: First Encounter

▪️What the hell by Avril Lavigne

• • •

Someone once asked me, "You're hell-bent on making other people happy, but what about you? Are you truly happy or it's just a facade?"

I couldn't answer it; not because I don't know the answer, but for some reason, I was just left speechless.

* * *

All my life I've been left here by my parents, alone, in this house. Well, atleast they're doing it for a reason.

My loved ones are living in the States; my parents work there as a Pulmonologist, a lung specialist. Another reason why they are there is to fully support my brother who's been suffering for some incurable lung disease.

They're finding a cure.

Apparently, advanced din daw doon sa medical field. Speaking of which, it's hella expensive as well. Their expenses ranges from fifty to hundred thousand dollars a month just for Kuya's meds.

That's why I was left here in the Philippines. Cheaper. Wala silang aalalahanin na other expenses since mas affordable ang cost of living dito.

May sarili-sarili na rin kasi silang pamilya. My parents are actually divorced. Pero since they love us so much lalo na si Kuya, they still contact each other from time to time. Well, mostly for work and because of Kuya's situation.

Niyaya rin naman nila ako pumunta doon, but I don't want to be a burden and stay there. I know naman mas lalaki pa ang gastos nila if andoon ako considering may own families na rin sila dapat supportahan.

Life sucks, I know. I'm not complaining, I'm just tired of this set up. Pero ayoko maging selfish, I'll rather keep this to myself.

Although, my Dad and Mom are separated for years, I still love them and I know they love me as much as I do. Ayun nga lang natauhan ako na in reality wala talagang happy ending. And, I don't really blame my parents for it. That's how life works, I should just be thankful because I'm privileged enough to still have them in my life.

Sabi nga ng iba, growing up in a broken family, especially without the personal guidance of both parents is kinda depressing — buti raw hindi ako nagre-rebelde unlike with other kids at my age — yes, it really sounds lonely, but, not totally.

I still have Tita Pinky and my friends.

And, why would I?

My parents, they're doing it for a reason and I shouldn't be an asshole to them dahil hindi lang ako nabibigyan ng attensyon. Hindi biro ang mga sacrifices nila para mapagamot si Kuya doon.

There's no room for me to feel unloved. I am loved and the world is too beautiful to let sadness conquer me.

———

"OMG, I'm so pawis na! How annoying, 'yung make-up ko," Hingal na reklamo ni Caily, halos tarantang-taranta na. "Ang panget ko na tapos I have practice pa later!" Tumatakbo kase kami ngayon papunta sa annex building ng Senior High School. Madaling-madali kami dahil late na kami ng 15 minutes sa klase namin.

"Jusme, Caily Veron, maganda ka, uy!"

Naghiwalay na kami ng daan ni Caily. Sa 2nd floor siya tumigil dahil doon nakahilera ang mga section ng HUMSS, ako naman umakyat pa ako sa 4th floor dahil STEM student ako.